Beinn Alligin
3rd March 2024
‘Wintery above 800m, spring like below’, would sum up the current conditions in Torridon. And bearing in mind that the majority of the mountains in the Torridon area don’t reach 1000m, then that doesn’t leave a lot of winter. For many of the mountains it’s just the top 100-150 meters that could be classed as ‘winter’. But, the ‘wintery summit layer’ is still to be respected; not from an avalanche point of view as the remaining snow continues to consolidate and is stable. But from a consequential slip perspective. The snow that remains is predominately hard and icy with very consequential run outs below. Rigid boots, crampons and an axe are definitely still needed on the higher tops and it’s easy to be misled with the balmy, dry, sunny and snow free terrain on the lower mountain sides.
Looking across to the summit of Beinn Alligin, Sgurr Mor (986m) and the ‘Horns of Alligin’.
The Northern aspects of Liathach.
Looking towards the summit of Tom na Gruagaich (922m). This photo gives a really good flavour of how superficial the snow cover is outwith the steep North, East and South-East aspects.
Looking North across the shoulder of Beinn Alligin towards the Corbett Baosbheinn.
Looking East towards the Corbett Beinn Dearg, Beinn Eighe behind.
Another view of the summit trig of Tom na Gruagaich (922m). The steep drop on the LHS of the photo faces east, again highlighting the lack of snow in the Torridon mountains.
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